The real chapter, everybody Enjoy! :)
Ron had recovered well over the next few weeks, and the along with more good news: Katie Bell had finally returned around April, with the snow melting at last. The friends sat together, Ron talking about how he was thrilled to be shot of Lavender, who Brooklyn could see she was watching Ron with Hermione with a mad glare.
But then, he saw the one person he longed to have spent Christmas with: Katie Bell, who was walking down the aisle. Joy flooded his veins, as he nudged Harry, pointing to her, and the two of them rushed over to meet Katie. Brooklyn felt tears of happiness slide down his cheeks, as he called to her.
"Katie!" He sobbed joyfully. She turned around, gasping softly at her beloved friend, and she too began crying, and the two of them hugged each other as they've never hugged before, even sharing a small kiss on each other's cheeks comfortingly. Harry watched this before him, happy that Brooklyn had his girl back.
He stroked her soft hair again, not wanting to let go. Harry then asked a question.
"Katie, did you remember who attacked-." Katie shook her head before Harry could finish. "No, I have tried to remember, but all that comes to me is my vision going blank by the time I exited the bathroom," she replied in a sad tone. Brooklyn held her comfortingly.
"Don't worry about it now, Katie. You're back now." He murmured, until Harry tapped him on the shoulder, pointing. He glanced up, and saw, to his anger, Draco Malfoy, who was standing there looking horrified.
That's when something different sparked in the gargoyle who let go of Katie, saying he would see her later, as the brothers followed the blond boy out.
They followed Malfoy until he entered the boy's bathrooms. Harry and Brooklyn snuck in quietly, and Brooklyn thought he heard, sobbing. Was Malfoy actually crying? And to top it all, he could hear Moaning Myrtle.
"Don't," she crooned, while Malfoy sobbed even harder. "Don't...tell me what's wrong...I can help…"
"No!" Choked Malfoy. "Nobody can help...it won't work…he says he'll kill me!"
Brooklyn's inner rage then flamed up, so it had been Malfoy who had cursed Katie and poisoned Ron! His eyes narrowed, as he drew his wand. Malfoy spotted the two behind him, his face tear-stained from crying, and glared.
"You'll pay, Draco Malfoy! I swear you'll pay!" Bellowed Brooklyn. Then Malfoy knew he was in trouble, but he wouldn't escape this without a fight, so he struck first. Brooklyn instantly ducked his rival's spell, which shattered a mirror behind them. Harry shot his own in retaliation, while Myrtle screamed at them to stop. But Brooklyn wouldn't stop until he had justice for his beloved Katie!
The fight continued, until Malfoy was about to shoot the torture curse at Harry, until Harry shouted out "Sectumsempra!" Malfoy screamed and blood suddenly spurted from his face. Brooklyn froze, staring in shock at the spell's effect, as Malfoy collapsed to the floor, the blood staining his clothes and the water around him, Myrtle screaming murder in the bathroom.
"H-Harry, did you know it could do that?" Brooklyn asked in a hoarse whisper, as his brother shook his head, staring down in horror. Snape arrived at that moment, gazing back and forth between Malfoy and the brothers with an unreadable expression, until Brooklyn coaxed Harry out, who couldn't move from what he had done, for Snape seemed to be more distracted in healing Draco than punishing them, giving the perfect opportunity to scram out of there.
As they left, Brooklyn could hear Snape doing a healing spell that sounded like a song.
Brooklyn sat next to Harry in the common room later that evening, a comforting arm around him, who still looked guilty about using Sectumsempra, and the Half Blood Prince's book lay nearby. Ginny and Katie had both been informed of it, and remained close to their friends.
Ginny then made a suggestion: get rid of the Half-Blood Prince's book for good. She and Harry both left for the Room of Requirement together, leaving Brooklyn and Katie alone.
Brooklyn continued to stare down at the floor, sickening images of Draco bleeding making him tremble a little. Whoever invented that spell meant business when the Prince meant it for enemies. Katie noticed his friend looking stressed, sitting on the couch with him.
"It will be okay," she said. "They're gonna take care of it." Brooklyn nodded, but felt his heart ache, having what if thoughts about if he had ended up using it after having those thoughts a few days ago about it, making him shiver more about the idea of hurting a kid, even if that kid was Malfoy.
That was when he felt gentle rubbing on his shoulders, and he looked over in surprise to see that it was Katie doing it. Small comforts began to take him over. Brooklyn realized that he really needed it without knowing he did, resting his back on the couch, allowing Katie to continue, and she even began humming a small tune that her mom sang to her whenever she was stressed. She felt that her gargoyle friend deserved this after what he had witnessed.
Brooklyn closed his eyes, feeling his breathing slow into a comforting rhythm, as Katie continued to massage his shoulders, his muscles unclenching, a small smile on his beak. He immediately felt relaxed, and much better.
"Thank you," he murmured, as he fell into a light nap.
"Anything for a friend," she replied gently, right as Harry and Ginny returned, having done his deed of hiding the book, smiling at the sight of Brooklyn lying there relaxed with Katie.
"I wanted to help him calm down from what you two had seen," she said. Harry was immensely grateful to Katie for doing it for his brother, and he was glad to be rid of the Half-Blood Prince's book, too.
Things for Brooklyn and Harry definitely calmed after the Malfoy incident, but they still had no luck with Slughorn for getting the memory. Until Harry had the brilliant idea of using the Lucky Potion.
He drank a few sips of it, while his friends watched Harry for any kind of weird side effects.
Then a smile formed on Harry's face, the potion taking effect and making him feel like the luckiest person in Hogwarts.
"You okay?" Brooklyn asked.
"I feel excellent!" Harry said back, as he stood up. "I'm gonna go to Hagrid's."
All their mouths fell open. "What? Harry, no, you have to go speak with Slughorn!" Hermione exclaimed. Brooklyn now hoped that this was the right Lucky Potion and not something else. He was gonna have to go with him to keep an eye on the effects.
"Yeah, but I just got a good feeling about Hagrid's, it seems to be the best place to be tonight, you know what I mean?" Harry asked, and the three of them shook their heads simultaneously.
"Trust me, I know what I'm doing or Felix does," Harry finished, before turning to Brooklyn.
"I want to know if you want to—." Brooklyn instantly nodded, for he had planned to go with him, anyway, since they've gotten a letter yesterday from Hagrid yesterday, saying that Aragog had at last passed on.
"Great! Come on!" Harry said, and the brothers made their way out. Whatever Harry was planning had better not be wasted, Brooklyn thought privately.
It apparently wasn't for they were lucky enough to happen across Slughorn in the Herbology classroom with Professor Sprout, and they could hear him requesting Tentacula Leaves from her that he is claiming for 'academic purposes'. After Sprout allowed him a few leaves, Harry and Brooklyn both followed him out, until he noticed them and jumped.
"Merlin's beard, you two! You don't sneak up on somebody near nightfall! And how did you get out of the castle?"
Harry shrugged. "Guess Filch forgot to lock the doors," he said as Brooklyn nodded too. "Yeah. But I'm here to ensure he is safe, as usual."
Slughorn though, asked them why they were out at this time of night, and they replied saying it was for Aragog's funeral at Hagrid's, and from hearing that it was for an Acromantula, Slughorn asked to go with them, which is what Harry wanted.
Upon arriving, Brooklyn saw the corpse of the once mighty Aragog, laid to rest in a dug hole by Hagrid, who was standing near it and crying.
"Th-thanks fer comin'," Hagrid sniffled. Brooklyn nodded. Now that he was here, he realized he would have hated himself for not coming, for he remembered when Aragog laid eyes on him for the first time, and looked rather interested in his species, which made him feel just a little respect for that spider.
"No problem, Hagrid." Harry replied. Hagrid let Slughorn take a small vial of the Spider venom, then they all stood in a circle around the grave, Slughorn making a speech while bowing their heads.
"Farewell, Aragog, King of the Arachnids, your body will decay but your spirit lingers on, and you will be remembered in all of our hearts."
Brooklyn continued to bow his head, and even picked up a dandelion to throw into the grave, murmuring a thank you to Aragog for not completely despising him before sending his children out after them.
After that they went inside for a drink or two, well for Hagrid it was at least six, and Slughorn had four, as they sang a silly but sad Wizard tune:
"And his wand snapped in two which was sad!"
Harry and Brooklyn clapped along, neither of them have drunk anything, as they watched Hagrid fall asleep from the effects of his drink, head hitting against the wall.
That's when Brooklyn spoke, now was the perfect time to bring it up.
"Slughorn, have you ever wondered how Harry's mother died?" He asked. The Professor shook his head, eyes now looking a little scared at this sudden question.
"She sacrificed herself to save me," Harry explained. "My father told mom to take me and go, but he fell trying to defend her from Voldemort, and when he tried to kill me, mom pleaded, pleaded for him to let me go, but Voldemort just laughed and shoved her, causing her to leap in front of me and take the curse."
Brooklyn nodded. "Lily died to save her son from Voldemort, Professor. If that isn't bravery then I don't know what is."
Slughorn trembled. "I-I know what you're doing. But I can't! He asked me to keep it between them. I'd be damned if he found out I spilled everything!" He sobbed. Brooklyn couldn't take it from him anymore, standing up sharply.
"You need to stop cowering in front of Voldemort and tell us what you told him! When I was controlled, I was scared, too because he said to keep the attacks between me and him, but eventually I found my courage and fought him back."
Harry also said his part. "And it is true, I am the Chosen One, only I can defeat Voldemort, and that can only happen if you help us."
Slughorn held his hands over his ears. "No! Stop saying his name and talking about Lily! She was my favorite! I wish I never said anything at all!" He sobbed.
The gargoyle felt his heart soften slightly, he really did look ashamed now. "Me and Harry aren't afraid of the name, Professor. You need to be brave, too. We all have regrets, like I sometimes wish I'd never let Demona lure me to her side all those years ago."
"Please, be brave like my mother, otherwise, you disgrace her, and she would have died in vain. You'd be honoring her by giving us the memory, sir." Harry then pleaded. Slughorn had tears in his eyes, but then he nodded, pulling out his wand.
"If-if it would help, I will give it to you, for dear Lily," he murmured, pointing the wand at his temple, a silver strand emerged. His hand shook trying to put the memory in the vial, but Harry held his hand, and he put the stopper on it.
"I wish you two luck," Slughorn said to them, and Brooklyn nodded his head. "You won't regret it, sir, I promise this will be for good use." Slughorn gave a sad smile before going on his way.
The brothers burst into Dumbledore's office that evening, Harry holding the memory in his hands.
Dumbledore praised them for their success. The three of them gathered around the Pensive to at last see the real memory. Harry poured it in, and Brooklyn put his face in, once again in Slughorn's office, where the stuff he saw before played out as usual, until at last, Tom Riddle spoke the question.
"Sir, what do you know about Horcruxes?" Tom asked, and Slughorn looked up in surprise, putting his drink down.
Brooklyn tensed a little from this new magical word, Horcruxes. Those didn't sound like good news to him.
"Why must you wish to know, Tom? A Defense project I assume?"
Tom shook his head. "No, sir, I came across the term while reading and I didn't fully understand it."
Slughorn stared. "Are you sure about this, Tom? For this is Dark stuff, very Dark indeed.
"But surely somebody like you knows all about them? The other professors aren't like you, they might misunderstand, I can understand if you don't want to tell me…"
Gee, this is definitely something familiar, Brooklyn huffed silently, remembering how Tom used this method on him when first writing in the Diary, and he felt disgusted for falling for Tom's charisma and 'friendly talk' in the first place which led him into knowing about the red gargoyle's family at all.
Slughorn fidgeted with his hands for a minute, before giving in. "Well, I'm sure it couldn't hurt to tell you some things...a Horcrux, you see, is when a person conceals part of their soul…"
"But I still don't see how that quite works, Sir," Tom replied in the same steady tone, but Brooklyn just frowned, he could easily detect when a person was excited, mostly in the eyes, that were shining with it.
"Uh, well, you split your soul, and hide part of it in an object. Then, should your body be attacked or damaged, that part of your soul remains protected."
Tom's eyes glittered. "Protected?" He asked eagerly.
Slughorn nodded. "Yes, part of your soul lives on in that object, in other words, you cannot die. But such few people would want that kind of existence, Tom. Death would be much better…"
Brooklyn nodded in agreement, a wise choice of words. He'd prefer death, too, rather than living a lonely desolate existence while everyone you knew and loved passed on around you.
Tom wasn't finished, obviously. "But how does one split his soul?" He asked, and Brooklyn couldn't help but notice him fingering the familiar gold black stone ring, the one he stole from Morfin.
"You must already know the answer to that," Slughorn said.
Tom furrowed his brow as he breathed the one word. "Murder."
"Yes, killing rips your soul apart, a violation against nature, Tom. Doing so the intent Wizard on making it would encase his soul into the Horcrux…"
"How do you encase your soul, sir?" Tom suddenly blurted. But Slughorn shook his head wildly.
"I don't know! It is a very powerful Dark spell! Do I look like a murderer? A killer?"
Tom looked sheepish. "Sorry, I didn't mean to." He mumbled, shifting his feet. But Slughorn said it was alright, till Tom said something else that made Brooklyn feel sick inside.
"But, what if one Horcrux isn't enough sir? Wouldn't you be even more protected if you had others, for instance, if seven—." Brooklyn's stomach curled up in disgust, seven Horcruxes?! That could slowly eat away at your very skin!
"Seven? Merlin's beard, Tom! Isn't it just bad enough killing one person? To rip the soul into seven pieces is unthinkable! Dangerous! But this is just rhetorical still, right? I don't want to lose such a bright young man down that darkened path." Slughorn cried out.
Tom nodded. "Like you said, I was only curious, no need to be worried about it, this will be our little secret."
The gargoyle felt like throwing up again at those familiar words, Tom saying his secrets will be kept between him and Brooklyn, as they all flew out of the Pensive. Brooklyn remained still and silent, unable to comprehend it all, as Harry and Dumbledore discussed the Horcruxes.
"He actually did it?" Harry had asked, Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, he did, seven. But now only few of them remain, like the ring, Morfin's ring. I already destroyed it myself."
Brooklyn found his voice again. "Was that why your hand is black?" He asked.
"Destroying the ring took some of me with it. But the first Horcrux destroyed was this:" he held up the small black book with the Basilisk puncture in it.
Brooklyn gulped silently at the sight of it, backing away, knowing the moment of truth was close at hand. He had to tell him.
Dumbledore gave an assuring smile. "It's destroyed, Brooklyn. It can't hurt you anymore. But I was fascinated that it had revealed itself to be a Horcrux from taking possession of you after Harry rescued you from the Chamber of Secrets."
He felt himself shaking. Now or never. "S-Sir? I don't know if I'm completely free from that thing. I-I can still understand Pareseltongue."
Dumbledore's eyebrows hitched in small surprise, this was something new from Voldemort, to leave one of his abilities in Brooklyn.
"How could this have happened to him, Professor?" Harry asked urgently. "And why? My brother never deserved this scarring!" Brooklyn rubbed his arm shamefully. "Does that make me a Horcrux?" He whispered.
Dumbledore gave a small sad frown of sympathy. "I don't think so, Brooklyn, you would know if you really were a Horcrux, feeling sudden mind links with the original hoast's body, for example. Had this ever happened?"
Brooklyn wracked his memory, but saw nothing with Voldemort's memories in it, and he shook his head.
"Then you don't need to worry about being a Horcrux. But Voldemort must have something planned if he left the Parseltongue in you. We just need to eventually learn why."
Then Harry remembered something else. "Professor, something besides the Parseltongue had happened, too. While I was using the Sword of Gryffindor in the Chamber, Brooklyn had received it in his mind while fighting Tom Riddle. How does that happen?"
Dumbledore gave a knowing smile. "Now that is a mystery beyond anything I know, but if I can guess, it must have something to do with your special connection, as brothers, that somehow linked Godric's sword to Brooklyn's aid."
Harry and Brooklyn both looked at one another, smiling.
Dumbledore mentioned two other Horcruxes he knew of, Hufflepuff's Cup, Nagini the snake (that really creeped Brooklyn out, he used a snake for a Horcrux? Seriously?) and one other he might've found while on his travels: Slytherin's Locket. Then, he requested something else.
"Now, Harry and Brooklyn, this is something I ask for you two to accompany with me on. Could you go with me to find Slytherin's locket and destroy it?"
Brooklyn gasped. A mission with Dumbledore? To destroy a piece of Voldemort's soul? The thought at first overwhelmed him, but he and Harry couldn't say no to this. He wouldn't let other innocent people get possessed by Voldemort after him! He looked to Harry, who nodded, as they both said yes. This was their greatest mission to defeat evil for good, whether they returned from it or not. The only way to end this Great War.
Next chapter for Friday afternoon, then hopefully Half Blood Prince will be finished by Monday, for I plan to do Deathly Hallows on the 5th of March in honor of Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Until next time! :)